Volume 1

A physicall directory, or, a translation of the London dispensatory made by the Colledge of Physicians in London. Being that book by which all apothicaries are strictly commanded to make all their physick with many hundred additions. Which the reader may find in every page marked with this letter A ... / [Nicholas Culpeper].

  • Culpeper, Nicholas, 1616-1654.
Date:
1649
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A physicall directory, or, a translation of the London dispensatory made by the Colledge of Physicians in London. Being that book by which all apothicaries are strictly commanded to make all their physick with many hundred additions. Which the reader may find in every page marked with this letter A ... / [Nicholas Culpeper]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    .. fives to that as to a facredrule3 frould obey the decrees of the Colkdg of fhyjitians0 to which royal mandate it was but equal for ik to obey5 and at length we brought the matter jo about tmt this London Vifyenfatory u brought forth to fifbhck^vLw3 in a habit neither fiovenly mrproud^ neither wanting nor redundant3 in which although we reverence the learnedgray hairs oj the ancient^ and have placed their reCcpts as it were m the front) jet we neither reject nor defife the Jupphes of modern ajfnjions, but we have left them a place and corner m the rcer that jo they may Jerve as auxiliaries to the mod- deloj hhyfickNeither have we juperjtioujly tiedour jelves to the Jfeps of the Ancient jo0 as that we bring nothing new of our own0 for all here cbfcribed vs not tranjeribed3 we have not furnijhed our Apo¬ thecaries jhop altogether with fonaign wares2 but we have added fome new ones and of our own5 which we bringforth into the public^ as aproved by frequent life from e we have changed in the ancient forms 9 both the fence and name of the Author being preferved> not moved thereto fr much through defire of novelty as compelled thereto by necef- fityo efreciahy where fuch Jimples as are preferred cannot eafrly be hadfin thcplace of which wepnferibe othersfrikeunto them in vertue. %he Ukp we have done in the compofrtion of pils0 which if they were made into a mafr after the ancient manner with juyees or waters3 they n'sttld foon be too dry 5 therefore we have appointed it to be done with fyrupJi a jo whereas in \moji Authors 3 fame things are totally left to the judgment of the Artificer: efecially in the quantity of Honey and Sugar3 under thefe two letters? q. f or words3 [fo much as is fuffi- ent] whence it comes to pafithat the fame medicine hath neither the fame confifence nor the fame vertue > we have for the future * taken a- * it? a hoptack way ibis power from the Artificer 5 and jor this caufie have taken feme of the moft skilful Apothecaries intocounfel with us ? by whofie help and pains we have agreed upon a certain manner of compofifiony and have defigned a certain quantity and dofr3 which they may not ad to nor tagefrom. And lafily feeing in mofi Difpenfatories both ancient and modern, the ufr and vertue of every medicine is deferibed whence ignorant fellows and Mountebanks may arm themfrlves for the pra¬ ctice ofphyficks andfo put a fword into a madmans hand for the de- fritUion of the Common-wealthy we have added nothing at all of the vertue?i for we write this to the.learned only ^ and to the mwflings of ^polios for the health3 not the under funding of the vulgar y we need